Parliament is a big player in this. The idea that Parliament is going to be evacuated from the centre stage of debate on Brexit is unimaginable. It is simply unimaginable.

Also this evening, Theresa May has urged her successor to seek a consensus over Brexit as Brussels stressed there could be no renegotiation of the Withdrawal Agreement.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned the Tories face destruction if a new leader calls a general election before delivering Brexit.

The Foreign Secretary, who is among 10 MPs vying to be the next prime minister, said a failure to solve Brexit could ruin the end of the Conservatives and warned the biggest risk to delivering on the referendum was a general election.

His comments came as Housing Minister Kit Malthouse became the latest person to enter the race to succeed Theresa May, saying there was a hunger for someone new.

Mrs May, attending a summit in Brussels, said the European election results in which the Tories took just 9% of the vote were deeply disappointing.

She said: I think what it shows is the importance of actually delivering on Brexit. I think the best way to do that is with a deal,.

But it will be for my successor and for Parliament to find a way forward and get a consensus.

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The comments are aimed at Brexiteers in the race to replace her who have said they are prepared to back a no-deal departure from the EU, something which could lead to a clash with Parliament.

Mr Hunt warned rivals that calling a general election – potentially to win a mandate for a no-deal Brexit – could be a disaster for the Tories, insisting that the UKs exit from the EU must be completed before going to the polls.

Setting out the scale of the challenge facing the Tories, Mr Hunt told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We must not go back to the electorate asking for their mandate until weve delivered what we promised we would do last time, which is to deliver Brexit, it would be absolutely catastrophic for us as a party.

He said: The House will want to have its say, and the idea that the House wont have its say is just for the birds (Picture: Reuters)

Mr Hunt, who campaigned for Remain in the 2016 referendum but has adopted an increasingly Eurosceptic tone, said he had always believed we should keep no deal on the table as it is the best way of getting a good deal.

Mr Hunt said it was important to find a different way to get a deal, adding we have to have a go at this as he proposed forming a new wider negotiating team to change the Withdrawal Agreement.